Bill Text: NJ S3292 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Expands authority of pharmacists to administer vaccines during outbreaks of communicable diseases.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-12-16 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [S3292 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-S3292-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator DECLAN J. O'SCANLON, JR.
District 13 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Expands authority of pharmacists to administer vaccines during outbreaks of communicable diseases.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning pharmacist-administered vaccines and amending P.L.2003, c.280.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 24 of P.L.2003, c.280 (C.45:14-63) is amended to read as follows:
24. a. No pharmacist shall administer a prescription medication directly to a patient without appropriate education or certification, as determined by the board in accordance with the requirements set forth in the rules jointly promulgated by the board and the State Board of Medical Examiners. Such medication shall only be for the treatment of a disease for which a nationally certified program is in effect, or as determined by the board, and only if utilized for the treatment of that disease for which the medication is prescribed or indicated or for which the collaborative drug therapy management permits.
b. (1) Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a pharmacist, pharmacy intern, or pharmacy extern may administer drugs to a patient 18 years of age or older, provided the pharmacist, pharmacy intern, or pharmacy extern is appropriately educated and qualified, as determined by the board in accordance with the requirements set forth in the rules jointly promulgated by the board and the State Board of Medical Examiners, and provided the drugs are administered under any one of the following conditions:
(a) pursuant to a prescription by an authorized prescriber for a vaccine and related emergency medications;
(b) in immunization programs implemented pursuant to an authorized prescriber's standing order for the vaccine and related emergency medications; or
(c) in immunization programs and programs sponsored by governmental agencies that are not patient specific.
(2) A pharmacist, pharmacy
intern, or pharmacy extern may administer an influenza vaccine to a patient who
is seven years of age or older. For a patient who is under 18 years of age, a
pharmacist, pharmacy intern, or pharmacy extern shall not administer a vaccine
except with the permission of the patient's parent or legal guardian. For a
patient who is under 10 years of age, a pharmacist, pharmacy intern, or
pharmacy extern shall not administer a vaccine unless pursuant to a
prescription by an authorized prescriber. Nothing in this subsection shall be
construed to require a patient 10 years of age or older to obtain a
prescription for an influenza vaccine.
(3) A pharmacy intern or pharmacy extern, as defined by regulation of the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy, may administer immunizations to patients by injection or by other delivery method, provided that the pharmacy intern or pharmacy extern is acting under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist who is pre-approved by the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy to administer vaccines and related emergency medications, and who is in compliance with the rules jointly promulgated by the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy and the State Board of Medical Examiners.
(4) During an outbreak of a communicable disease occurring among the general public in any area of the State, all pharmacists in the State shall be authorized to administer any available vaccine that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends to prevent against that communicable disease, which vaccine may be administered by the pharmacist to any patient, regardless of the patient's age, unless age restrictions have been recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The pharmacist shall comply with any other restrictions or guidance concerning the vaccine as have been issued by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices or the Department of Health. A vaccine administered pursuant to this paragraph may be administered pursuant to an individual prescription for the vaccine, a standing order for the vaccine issued by an authorized prescriber, or an immunization program or other program sponsored by an authorized governmental agency that is not patient specific.
c. An immunization administered to a patient by a pharmacist, pharmacy intern, or pharmacy extern shall be reported by a supervising pharmacist to the New Jersey Immunization Information System established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2004, c.138 (C.26:4-134) as required pursuant to N.J.A.C.8:57-3.16, for inclusion in the patient's registry.
(cf: P.L.2018, c.143, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill expands the ability of pharmacists to administer certain vaccines.
Under current law, pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy externs may generally administer vaccines to patients 18 years of age or older pursuant to an individual prescription for the vaccine, a standing order for the vaccine issued by an authorized prescriber, or an immunization program that is not patient specific. Pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy externs may further administer the influenza vaccine to any patient who is 10 years of age or older without a prescription; for patients younger than 18 years of age, the consent of the patient's parent is required, and for patients who are seven years of age or older but younger than 10, a prescription for the vaccine is required.
Under the bill, during an outbreak of a communicable disease occurring among the general public in any area of the State, all pharmacists in the State will be authorized to administer any available vaccine against the communicable disease that is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pharmacists may administer the vaccine to any patient, regardless of the patient's age, unless age restrictions have been recommended by the ACIP. The pharmacist will also be required to comply with any other restrictions or guidance concerning the vaccine that have been issued by the ACIP or the Department of Health.
A vaccine administered under the bill may be administered pursuant to an individual prescription for the vaccine, a standing order for the vaccine issued by an authorized prescriber, or an immunization program or other program sponsored by an authorized governmental agency that is not patient specific.
